A huge package – four full albums by this excellent soul group – plus lots of bonus tracks too! First up is Hand Clappin Foot Stompin Funky Butt Live – filled with sockin soul from Geno Washington – an ex-American marine who recorded to
big fame in the UK in the late 60s – working with the legendary Ram Jam Band, an act that rivaled some of the best American combos of the southern party circuit at the time! The approach here is certainly soul-based, but it's also something different – given the actual overseas origin of the recording – and in a way, the record's a perfect example of the influence that African-American military had in Europe in the 60s – as their presence on the continent really helped to shape and authenticate the sounds of some already-willing overseas combos. Geno's vocals are great, and the tracks are all up
beat and lively – very much what you'd expect from the title! Titles include "Philly Dog", "Ride Your Pony", "Road Runner", "Up Tight", "Land Of 1000 Dance", "Que Sera Sera", "Get Down With It", and "Willy Nilly". Shake A Tail Feather is a hard-smoking album that bears all the best 60s hallmarks of Geno Washington and his Ram Jam Band! The album's not as much a live effort as the previous two, but still keeps all the best spontaneous qualities in the music – a feel that really makes you think that Washington and the band were just partying in the studio, rattling the tunes off as they came to them – with all the confidence and swagger earned from a never-ending stream of gigs in the UK! Titles include "Raise Your Hand", "You Got Me Hummin", "Tell It Like It Is", "Use Me", "Understanding", "Knock On Wood", "I'm Your Puppet", "Who's Foolin Who", and "Hold On To My Love". CD also features 7 more bonus tracks – including "Seven Eleven", "Alison Please", "Each & Every Part Of Me", "Give Em A Hand", and "Dirty Dirty". Next is Hipsters Flipsters Finger Poppin Daddies – a bit of soul, a bit of R&B, a bit of
beat group grooving – all wrapped up in a classic 60s set from Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band! Geno's American roots are inflected and appreciated strongly here – not just by the Ram Jam combo, who groove things up with plenty of influences from Atlantic and Sue Records – but also by the audience, who seem to go even more crazy for Geno than the crowds at the Apollo did for James Brown! Washington's vocals are somewhat rough and raspy – perhaps not the instant hit sort of sound for the US market, but a perfect fit for the rougher-edged grooves going on here – partyful soul that's never too poised, and which features lots of covers of 60s classics throughout. Titles include "Herk's Works", "Day Tripper", "I Can't Turn You Loose", "Shotgun", "Raise Your Hand", "Who's Foolin Who", "It's A Wonder", and "Wild Thing". Last up is one more live album – Runnin Wild – with 11 more tracks that include "Rock Me Baby (parts 1 & 2)", "High Heel Sneakers/
Mary Ann", "Knock On Wood", "I Take What I Want", "Gimme A Little Sign/
Raise Your Hand", "I Got You Babe", and "I Get So Excited". Plus, the package features 33 more bonus tracks – including later singles, rare b-sides, and some EP-only tracks!